Michelle Obama's Mother's Day Salute to Military Moms and Families

First Lady hosts a Mother's Day event for military families.

Thank You for Your Service - First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, welcomed military moms, grandmas and kids to the White House on May 12 to thank them for their sacrifice and service. Obama also delivered a short tribute to her mom, without whose support, she said, she wouldn't "be standing up straight on my feet." —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

1 / 8

Thank You for Your Service - First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, welcomed military moms, grandmas and kids to the White House on May 12 to thank them for their sacrifice and service. Obama also delivered a short tribute to her mom, without whose support, she said, she wouldn't "be standing up straight on my feet." —Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Yay to Us Moms - "As I look around the room, I see all the women who are pouring so much love and support — that same kind of love into their families.  We have an extraordinary group here today," said the first lady. "We’ve got moms who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve got military wives and partners who have moved across the country again and again. We have grandmothers who have helped to care for their grandkids while mom or dad or both are deployed. So we have some really phenomenal representation of what mothering can mean in the lives of so many families, in particular our military families."(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

2 / 8

Yay to Us Moms - "As I look around the room, I see all the women who are pouring so much love and support — that same kind of love into their families.  We have an extraordinary group here today," said the first lady. "We’ve got moms who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve got military wives and partners who have moved across the country again and again. We have grandmothers who have helped to care for their grandkids while mom or dad or both are deployed. So we have some really phenomenal representation of what mothering can mean in the lives of so many families, in particular our military families."(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

I'll Always Love My Mama - "There is no way I would be standing up straight on my feet if it weren’t for my mom, who is always there to look after our girls, to love them and to be mad at me when I’m disciplining them, which I still don’t get," Obama said in a tribute to her mother, Marian Robinson. "But especially, she’s been that shoulder for me to lean on. I can always go up to her room and cry, complain, argue, and she just says, go on back down there and do what you’re supposed to do. So if my mom reflects the love and support that the moms here have given to their families, then we’re in good space here. So, Mom, I love you."(Photo: AP Photo)

3 / 8

I'll Always Love My Mama - "There is no way I would be standing up straight on my feet if it weren’t for my mom, who is always there to look after our girls, to love them and to be mad at me when I’m disciplining them, which I still don’t get," Obama said in a tribute to her mother, Marian Robinson. "But especially, she’s been that shoulder for me to lean on. I can always go up to her room and cry, complain, argue, and she just says, go on back down there and do what you’re supposed to do. So if my mom reflects the love and support that the moms here have given to their families, then we’re in good space here. So, Mom, I love you."(Photo: AP Photo)

Beyond the Call of Duty - "You all are perfect examples of why this event is so special and why we want to bring you all here today, because as military moms you’re doing so much not just for your families, but you’re doing so much for your communities and for our country. And most people don’t know it. They don’t know what you do," Obama said. "And no matter what your country asks of you and your family, you’re the ones who step up and serve.  And you do it with grace, with dignity, and without complaint."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET)

4 / 8

Beyond the Call of Duty - "You all are perfect examples of why this event is so special and why we want to bring you all here today, because as military moms you’re doing so much not just for your families, but you’re doing so much for your communities and for our country. And most people don’t know it. They don’t know what you do," Obama said. "And no matter what your country asks of you and your family, you’re the ones who step up and serve.  And you do it with grace, with dignity, and without complaint."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET)

Been There, Done That - During the event, the children worked with White House staffers to make gifts for their mothers and grandmothers. When the first lady welcomed them to the White House, some of them reminded her that it wasn't their first time. "They were like, oh, I've been here before. Been there, done that," she laughed. "It's good to have you guys back."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET)

5 / 8

Been There, Done That - During the event, the children worked with White House staffers to make gifts for their mothers and grandmothers. When the first lady welcomed them to the White House, some of them reminded her that it wasn't their first time. "They were like, oh, I've been here before. Been there, done that," she laughed. "It's good to have you guys back."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET)

ADVERTISEMENT
Kids Serve, Too - "The thing that always strikes me about military kids is how much they sacrifice," the first lady observed.(Photo: AP Photo)

6 / 8

Kids Serve, Too - "The thing that always strikes me about military kids is how much they sacrifice," the first lady observed.(Photo: AP Photo)

The One and Only Norah Jones - "She came all the way here from New York, even though she just had a three-month-old, and she’s here for the same reason we’re all here — because she is proud of you, she is grateful for your service and sacrifice," Obama said. "She knows just a little bit about what it means to be a busy mom juggling a lot of things.  She’s an extraordinarily talented singer, songwriter, a nine-time Grammy winner.  And listening to her music is the perfect way to kick back, relax and enjoy yourselves for a little while."(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

7 / 8

The One and Only Norah Jones - "She came all the way here from New York, even though she just had a three-month-old, and she’s here for the same reason we’re all here — because she is proud of you, she is grateful for your service and sacrifice," Obama said. "She knows just a little bit about what it means to be a busy mom juggling a lot of things.  She’s an extraordinarily talented singer, songwriter, a nine-time Grammy winner.  And listening to her music is the perfect way to kick back, relax and enjoy yourselves for a little while."(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Treat Yourselves Well - "Make sure to take time out for yourselves. That’s the one thing I’ve learned from my mom, to treat yourself well. Do that every single day," the first lady counseled. (Photo: AP Photo)

8 / 8

Treat Yourselves Well - "Make sure to take time out for yourselves. That’s the one thing I’ve learned from my mom, to treat yourself well. Do that every single day," the first lady counseled. (Photo: AP Photo)